One witness said the plane “was coming in to land, flipped over and landed nose first”.

The runway at Chester Hawarden airport is next to the Airbus factory and manages business and private flights.

Airport owner Aviation Park Group Ltd said it could not comment on the crash.

A spokesman for Airbus said the crash at the Hawarden airfield did not involve one of its aircraft.

In a statement North Wales Police said: “A man and a woman have died after a light aircraft crashed near the runway at Airbus UK Broughton.

“Police were informed of the incident involving a twin engine light aircraft at 1.07pm today. Police, ambulance and the North Wales Fire and Rescue Service attended.

“The man was pronounced dead at the scene and the woman was taken to the Countess of Chester Hospital where she later died.

“We are working with the AAIB to establish what caused the plane to crash. The AAIB will lead the investigation. “North Wales Police are currently not in a position to identify the man and the woman who died. The coroner has been informed.”